Portae



March 17, 1964 a. ALVAREZ ETAL PORTABLE ELECTRIC CIGARETTE, CIGAR ANDPIPE LIGHTER Original Filed Oct. 21, 1960 DW M March 17, 1964 B. ALVAREZETAL 3,125,662

PORTABLE ELECTRIC CIGARETTE, CIGAR AND PIPE LIGHTER Original Filed 001:.21, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 L l H I II 5 2/ 37 is Q 3/ 3 I if I I :3

INVENTORS ATTORNEY March 17, 1964 B. ALVAREZ ETAL. 3,125,552

PORTABLE ELECTRIC CIGARETTE, CIGAR AND PIPE LIGHTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3Original'Filed Oct. 21, 1960 w as wpd EJTE- INVENTORS BY ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent C) 3,125,662 PORTABLE ELECTRIC CIGARETTE, CIGAR AND PIPELIGHTER Belarmino Alvarez, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela (135 This inventionrelates to new and useful improvements in smokers appliances oraccessories, and the principal object of the invention is to provide anovel lighter which may be conveniently and effectively employed forigniting cigarettes, cigars, smoking pipes, et cetera.

This application is a division of our application Serial No. 64,101,filed October 21, 1960, entitled Portable Electric Cigarette, Cigar andPipe Lighter.

Unlike pyrophoric lighters of the conventional type, the lighter inaccordance with the invention does not require fiints, wicks, lighterfluid, and the like, for its operation, and unlike conventional electriclighters, the present lighter does not require an external source ofpower supply. As such, the lighter in accordance with the invention is aportable, self-contained entity which may be conveniently carried fromplace to place and/or used whenever required for the purpose for whichit is intended.

Accordingly, one feature of the invention resides in the provision of anelectric lighter having an energizable element powered by a batterycarried in the case of the lighter itself, so that the lighter elementmay be energized by the battery whenever required by closing of anappropriate, associated switch. In the several disclosed embodiments ofthe invention the battery is either easily replaceable or rechargeable,so that its power supply is available when needed.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a removableor otherwise openable closure on the lighter casing for the lighterelement, such a closure in some embodiments of the invention alsofunctioning as or coacting with switch means for energizing the lighterelement by the battery, parts being so arranged that the lighter elementmay be energized only when the closure is opened or removed to exposethe lighter element, so that accidental or unintentional energization ofthe element is not possible in instances Where the device is not in useand the lighter element is covered by the closure.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity ofconstruction, in its eiiicient and dependable operation, in itsconvenient use, and in its adaptability to economical manufacture.

With the foregoing objects and features in View and such other objectsand features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, theinvention will be understood from the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters ofreference are used to designate like parts, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical elevational view, partly in section, of thelighter in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FlGURE 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly insection, showing the lighter element invetted;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional View on a reduced scale, showing acharging plug applied to the lighter;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional View, on a reduced scale, showing amodified arrangement of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional View showing another modified form;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of 3,125,662 PatentedMar. 17, 1964 ice the form shown in FIGURE 6 and with the closure capillustrated by dotted lines;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of the subject shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of another modified form of theinvention, the closure cap also being shown by dotted lines;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of another modified form;

FIGURE 11 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially in theplane of the line 11-11 in FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a vertical sectional view of another modified form of theinvention, showing the same in its inoperative position;

FIGURE 13 is a sectional view, similar to that shown in FIGURE 12 butwith the device in its operative position;

FIGURE 14 is a vertical sectional view of another modified embodiment ofthe invention;

FIGURE 15 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FEGURE 14 but with theclosure cap shown by dotted lines;

FIGURE 16 is a wiring diagram showing one arrangement of the electricalcircuit; 25

FIGURE 17 is a wiring diagram showing another arrangement of thecircuit;

FIGURE 18 is a perspective view of a typical lighter, for example, thatin accordance with FIGURES 1, 6, 9 or 12;

FIGURE 19 is a perspective view of a typical lighter, for example, inaccordance with FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 20 is a perspective view of a lighter embodying another design;and

FIGURE 21 is a perspective view of a lighter embodying still anotherdesign.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, more particularlyto FIGURES l, 2 and 3, one embodiment of the lighter in accordance withthe invention is designated generally by the numeral 25 and comprises acylindrical casing 26 of metal or other electrically conductivematerial, the casing having a closed bottom 27 and an open top providedwith an outturned annular lip 28. The casing 26 constitutes a housingfor a dry cell battery 29 which also includes a center pole 39 providedwith a contact 31, it being understood that the upper end of the battery29 is spaced downwardly from the upper end of the casing 26 so that theupper end portion of the casing may accommodate therein a lighterelement or assembly designated generally by the numeral 32.

The lighter element or assembly 32 comprises a cylindrical jacket 33which is formed from metal or other electrically conductive material andhas mounted in one end portion thereof an insulating grid 34. As is bestshown in FIGURE 2, the grid 34 is fitted in the jacket 33 but is formedwith notches 35 whereby portions of the grid between these notchesprovide sets of protrusions 36. A resistance wire 37 is wound around andunder the protrusions 36 so that it passes in a zig-zag manner over thetop of the grid, and when electric current is caused to flow through thewire 37, the latter will become heated and may be used to ignite acigarette, cigar or pipe tobacco with which the lighter is brought incontact.

One end of the wire 37 is grounded to the jacket 33 as shown at 38,while the other end portion of the wire passes through a slot 39 in thegrid 34 and is connected toa center post 40 in the jacket, the post 4t)being centered in the jacket 33 by an insulating disc 40a and having acontact 41 which is insulated from the jacket. It will be also notedthat the grid 34 is provided with an opening 42 to provide an airpassage around portions of the resistance wire 37 stretched over the topof the grid.

The jacket 33 is provided intermediate its ends with an annular,outwardly projecting bead 43 which is closer to the end of the jackethaving the grid 34 therein than to the relatively opposite end havingthe contact 41. The lighter element assembly 32 is slidably andreversibly received in the upper end portion of the casing 26 and therelative dimensions 50f parts are such that when the assembly 32 isinserted in the jacket 26 as shown in FIGURE 1, the contact 41 of thelighter assembly engages the contact 31 of the battery 29, thusautomatically completing the electrical circuit from the battery throughthe post 40, through the resistance wire 37, and through the jacket 33and casing '26 to the battery, so that the Wire 37 is energized andcaused to become heated. Upon removing the lighter assembly 32 from thecasing 26, the electrical circuit is automatically interrupted byseparation of the contacts 31, 41, whereupon the assembly 32 may beinserted in the casing 26 in an inverted position shown in FIGURE 3wherein the grid 34 and Wire 37 are spaced above the battery contact 31.In this inoperative position of the device, the grid 34 and resistancewire 37 are protectively enclosed by the casing 26 and, with the contact41 disposed exteriorly as shown, accidental or unintentionalenergization of the resistance wire is prevented.

In FIGURE 4 the lighter element or assembly 32 has been removed from thecasing 26 and a charging plug 44 inserted therein. The plug 44 isprovided with a flexible conductor 45 having one wire 46 thereofconnected to a center contact 47 on the plug, while the other wire 48 ofthe conductor is grounded to the plug and hence to the casing 26 whenthe plug is inserted in the latter. In such position the plug contact 47engages the battery contact 31 and, with the conductor 45 connected to asuitable source of electric current, the battery 29 may be rechargedwhen necessary.

FIGURE illustrates a modified embodiment of the invention wherein thecasing 26a accommodates a replaceable battery 49, the casing beingprovided at its lower end with a removable plug or cap 50 wherebyreplacement of the battery may be effected. A suitable spring 51 isinterposed between the plug 50 and the lower end of the battery forurging the upper end of the latter against an inwardly projectingshoulder 52 formed in the casing 26a. The arrangement and operation ofthe lighter element assembly 32 is the same as already described.

FIGURES 6-8 show another modified form of the invention wherein thecasing 53, containing the battery 54, which may be either a replaceableor a rechargeable battery, is provided in its upper end portion with apair of slots 55 so that a portion of the casing between the slots formsa resiliently depressible tongue 56. The

resistance wire 57 is carried by an insulating grid 58 in the casing 53above the battery 54, the grid having an air passage 59. One end of theresistance wire 57 is connected to a center contact 60 at the undersideof the grid 58 While its other end is connected to a lateral contact 61provided on the grid 58 in spaced adjacent relation to the tongue 56 ofthe casing 53. When the tongue 56 is pressed inwardly to engage thecontact 61, circuit through the battery and resistance wire iscompleted, but when pressure on the tongue is released,

.the tongue returns to its initial position and interrupts the flow ofcurrent through the resistance wire. A removable cap or closure 62 isprovided on the casing 53 to cover the lighter element when the deviceis not in use, it being noted that when the cap 'is in position, it alsocovers the tongue 56 so that it cannot be accidentally 'orunintentionally depressed.

The modified embodiment shown in FIGURE 9 is similar to that shown inFIGURES 6-8 but utilizes a dilterent switch operator which, in thisinstance, is in the form of a button 63 slidably positioned in a slot 64in the casing 65. One end of the resistance wire 57 is connected as at66't0 the battery contact 31 while its other end is connected to thecontact 67 on the grid 58a. The button 63 carries a contact element 68which engages the contact 67 when the button is slid upwardly asindicated at 69, but is disengaged therefrom when the button is sliddownwardly to break the circuit. A removable closure cap 62a is providedon the casing 65 and the lower edge 70 of this cap abuts the button 63in the downwardly slid position of the latter, so that the button cannotbe slid upwardly to close the circuit unless the cap 62a is removed.

FIGURES 10 and 11 illustrate another modified embodiment of theinvention wherein the casing 71 of the battery 72 accommodates above thebattery a vertically slidable grid 73 carrying the resistance wire 74.The casing 71 is preferably rectangular in cross-section and the upperportion of one of its side walls is formed with an opening 75 spanned bya cross bar 76. The latter constitutes a fulcrum for a substantiallytubular hinge member 77 of a closure 78, the member 77 being providedwith a cam 79 which engages the upper surface of the grid 73 as shown. Apair of stop lugs 80 are provided in the casing 71 to also engage theupper surface of the grid, it being understood that when the closure 78is swung in the direction of the arrow 81 to its closed position, thegrid 73 is swung downwardly in the casing with the lugs 80 acting asfulcrum therefor. A suitable spring 82 is interposed between the battery72 and the underside of the grid 73 to slide the latter upwardly whenthe closure is opened.

One end 83 of the resistance wire 74 is disposed on the grid 73 so thatit constantly contacts one of the lugs 80, thus placing the wire 74 incircuit with the casing 71 of the battery 72. The center pole 84 of thebattery is equipped with an extension arm 85 which passes slidablythrough the grid 73 and terminates at its upper end in an angulatedportion 86. The other end 87 of the resistance wire is disposed on thegrid 73 so that it contacts the portion 86 of the arm 85 when the gridis swung upwardly, thus completing the circuit through the battery andthe resistance wire when the closure 78 is in its open position.However, when the closure is swung to its closed position, the downwardswinging of the grid 73 interrupts the circuit between the wire end 83and lug 80 and between the wire end 87 and arm portion 86 to preventenergization of the resistance Wire.

Another modified form of the invention shown in FIG- URES l2 and 13utilizes a cylindrical, metallic inner casing 88 containing a battery 89and provided with an insulating jacket 90 which, in turn, is containedin an openended metallic outer casing 91. The lower end of the outercasing 81 terminates short of the lower end of the inner casing 88 andjacket 89, and the upper end portion of the outer casing accommodates agrid 92 carrying the resistance wire 93. The upper end portion of thecasing 91 is formed with an inturned bead or rim 94 to retain the gridin place, the underside of the grid being in abutment with the upper endof the jacket 90, as shown. One end of the resistance wire 93 isconnected to the center pole 95 of the battery 89 while the other end ofthe resistance wire is grounded to the outer casing 91. A removableclosure cap or' cover 96 is positionable selectively on the upper andlower end portions of the casing 91, the cap being formed from suitableconductive material. Thus, when the cap is positioned at the lower endof the casing 91 as shown in FIGURE 13, it electrically bridges thecasings 91 and 88 by contact of the cap with the bottom 88a of thecasing 88. In this manner the electrical circuit through the battery andresistance wire is completed, it being noted that with the cap 96 at thelower end of the casing 91, the resistance wire 93 is exposed for use.However, when the cap 96 is positioned on the upper end of the casing 91so as to cover the resistance wire 93 when the device is not in use, theelectrical connection between the casings 88 and 91 is broken and theresistance wire is not energized.

Finally, FIGURES 14 and 15 show another modified form of the inventionutilizing a heating effect of the hot and cold junction type in place ofa resistance wire. In this embodiment the casing 97 accommodates abattery 98 which is longitudinally slidable in the casing, being urgedupwardly therein by a suitable spring 99 interposed between the bottomof the battery and a removable plug or cap 100 at the lower end of thecasing. The upper end portion of the casing accommodates a grid 101which is held in place by an inturned shoulder 102 at the upper end ofthe casing and by a set of inwardly projecting detents 103 formed in thecasing at the underside of the grid. A contact bracket 104 is secured inthe casing by a suitable screw 105 at a point below the lower end of thebattery and provides the cold junction for an electrical conductor 106which extends upwardly in the casing and through the grid 101 to a hotjunction 107 with another conductor 108 of a dissimilar material. Thelatter is connected to the center pole 109 of the battery 98, havingenough slack to permit sliding of the battery as aforesaid.

A switch lever 110 engages an insulating disk 111 on top of the battery98 and has one end 112 thereof in abutment with the underside of thegrid 101. The other end portion of the lever 110 is in the form of afinger-piece 112 which projects outwardly through a slot 113 formed inan inwardly offset portion 114 of the casing 97 so that the finger-piecedoes not protrude outwardly beyond the periphery of the casing. Thespring 99 normally retains the battery in its upwardly slid positionwherein the cold junction 104 is separated from the battery and nocurrent flows through the circuit. However, when the finger-piece 112 ispressed downwardly, the battery 98 is slid downwardly in the casing 97until it engages the cold junction 104, at which time current flowsthrough the conductors 106, 108 and produces a heating eifect at the hotjunction 107. Suitable air passages 115 are provided in the grid 101 anda removable closure cap or cover 116 is provided on the casing 97. Thecap 116 is equipped with an inwardly projecting annular shoulder 117 forabutment with the upper end of the casing 97 and when the cap is inposition on the casing, it covers the inwardly offset casing portion 114so as to prevent accidental or unintentional actuation of thefinger-piece 112.

FIGURE 16 schematically illustrates the wiring arrangement of theembodiments of FIGURES l-13 wherein the switch means S representing anyof the various forms of switch means used in these embodiments areconnected in series with the battery B and the resistance wire R. FIGURE17 on the other hand shows the wiring arrangement of the embodiment ofFIGURES 14 and 15, wherein the switch means 104 at the cold junction arein circuit with the battery 98 and dissimilar conductors 106 and 108 toproduce a heating effect at the hot junction 107.

From the standpoint of design, FIGURE 18 illustrates a relativelyslender, cylindrical form of the device such as may embody themechanical structure of the invention as disclosed, while FIGURE 19illustrates the same in the form of an elongated casing of a rectangularcross-section. FIGURE shows the device in a substantially diskshapedform suitable for carrying in a handbag, for example, while FIGURE 21shows a desk or table embodiment of the design.

While in the foregoing there have been described and shown severalpreferred embodiments of the invention, various other modifications maybecome apparent to those skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to thisdisclosure and various modifications may be resorted to, such as may liewithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a portable electric lighter, the combination of a tubular casinghaving an epen end and formed from electrically conductive material, agrid of insulating material mounted in the open end portion of saidcasing, a lighter element supported by said grid, a battery provided inthe casing and having one pole thereof in circuit therewith, the otherpole of said battery being in circuit with one end of said lighterelement, a contact member provided on on said grid in spaced relationfrom said casing and having the other end of said lighter elementconnected thereto, said open end portion of said casing having movablecontact means engageable with said contact member to complete thecircuit through said lighter element when said contact means are movedto the circuit closing position, and a closure cap for said lighterelement slidably and removably positioned on the open end portion ofsaid casing, said cap when positioned on the casing engaging saidmovable contact means so as to prevent the contact means from beingmoved to the circuit closing position until the cap is removed from thecasing, the open end portion of said casing being formed with a pair ofspaced slots having open ends at the open end of the casing, a portionof the casing between said slots constituting a resiliently depressibletongue engageable with said contact member when depressed, said tongueconstituting said movable contact means of said casing, and said capwhen positioned on the casing covering said tongue to prevent the samefrom being depressed until the cap is removed.

2. In a portable electric lighter, the combination of a tubular casinghaving an epen end and formed from electrically conductive material, agrid of insulating material mounted in the open end portion of saidcasing, a lighter element supported by said grid, a battery provided inthe casing and having one pole thereof in circuit therewith, the otherpole of said battery being in circuit with one end of said lighterelement, a contact member provided on on said grid in spaced relationfrom said casing and having the other end of said lighter elementconnected thereto, said open end portion of said casing having movablecontact means engageable with said contact member to complete thecircuit through said lighter element when said contact means are movedto the circuit closing position, and a closure cap for said lighterelement slidably and removably positioned on the open end portion ofsaid casing, said cap when positioned on the casing engaging saidmovable contact means so as to prevent the contact means from beingmoved to the circuit closing position until the cap is removed from thecasing, the open end portion of said casing being provided with alongitudinal slot, said movable contact means comprising an electricallyconductive finger piece slidable in said slot and engageable with saidcontact member when slid toward the open end of the casing, said capwhen positioned on the casing abutting said finger piece in a positionwhere it is slid away from the open end of the casing, whereby toprevent sliding of the finger piece to the contact member engagingposition until the cap is removed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,199,885 Kravchuk May 7, 1940 2,240,678 Stanard May 6, 1941 2,516,843Bakst et a1 Aug. 1, 1950 2,728,844 Terney Dec. 27, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS387,582 Great Britain Feb. 9, 1933 549,164 Great Britain Nov. 9, 1942552,594 Great Britain Apr. 15, 1943 626,494 Great Britain July 15, 1949814,183 France Mar. 15, 1937 934,833 France Jan. 10, 1948

2. IN A PORTABLE ELECTRIC LIGHTER, THE COMBINATION OF A TUBULAR CASINGHAVING AN OPEN END AND FORMED FROM ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL, AGRID OF INSULATING MATERIAL MOUNTED IN THE OPEN END PORTION OF SAIDCASING, A LIGHTER ELEMENT SUPPORTED BY SAID GRID, A BATTERY PROVIDED INTHE CASING AND HAVING ONE POLE THEREOF IN CIRCUIT THEREWITH, THE OTHERPOLE OF SAID BATTERY BEING IN CIRCUIT WITH ONE END OF SAID LIGHTERELEMENT, A CONTACT MEMBER PROVIDED ON ON SAID GRID IN SPACED RELATIONFROM SAID CASING AND HAVING THE OTHER END OF SAID LIGHTER ELEMENTCONNECTED THERETO, SAID OPEN END PORTION OF SAID CASING HAVING MOVABLECONTACT MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID CONTACT MEMBER TO COMPLETE THECIRCUIT THROUGH SAID LIGHTER ELEMENT WHEN SAID CONTACT MEANS ARE MOVEDTO THE CIRCUIT CLOSING POSITION, AND A CLOSURE CAP FOR SAID LIGHTERELEMENT SLIDABLY AND REMOVABLY POSITIONED ON THE OPEN END PORTION OFSAID